MikesWhatsNews, 19, 12, 2003
in today's issue #712
HackFix Updates
2 Seasons Greetings
3 CD Freaks
4 Windows XP Service Pack 2 info
5 The Walls of Jericho
6 Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite
7 Windows XP Services Tweak Guide
8 CCC KillProcess
9 Wait! Stop!
10 Test Your Digital IQ
11 Twas the night before Christmas
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NOTE: Any time you see the " ++ ", it means there is more
of the article, or story, on the linked site. Mike
____________________________________________________________

There is a complete archive of past MikesWhatsNews newsletters
available to members on the Yahoo page, it is searchable by word
or issue #. Here is the address direct to the messages;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MikesWhatsNews/messages
and; http://www.freelists.org/archives/mikeswhatsnews/
____________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________


HackFix updates, thanks to Christy;
staff@...
Http://www.hackfix.org
This weeks Virus Pattern Updates (12/18/2003)


All Software listed Alphabetically by Company name as some
companies manufacture more then one product.


Aladdin Knowledge Systems

Esafe Desktop/Gateway/Enterprise
Last Updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.esafe.com/esafe/downloads/virusig.asp
Or
From the Esafe folder in your Start Menu select Download Updates
~~~~~

AlWil Software

Avast Antivirus
Last Updated Dec 16/2003
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.avast.com/i_kat_69.html
Or
Right click on the AVAST icon in the system tray, Select iAVS Update,
AVAST will check for updates and download the appropriate files as needed.
~~~~~

Authentium Software Systems

Command antivirus
Last Updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit http://www.authentium.com/support/downloads/index.cfm
~~~~~

Center for Antivirus Technologies (CAT)

Quickheal
Last Updated Dec 12/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.quickheal.com/winupg.htm
Or
Open Quickheal select Utility from the top toolbar and liveupdate. Follow
the
onscreen prompts. Alternately you can select Liveupdate directly from the
QuickHeal program menu on the startmenu.
~~~~~

Frisk Software Systems

Fprot
Last Updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.f-prot.com/download/home_user/
~~~~~

Computer Associates

E-Trust
Last updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
http://support.cai.com/Download/virussig.html
Or
From the Respective folder in your Start Menu select Autodownload

For Vet Anti virus
http://www.vet.com.au/html/software/update.html

Be sure to have your Customer ID and your registered email address
handy for verification.

**Note**

We knew this time would come eventually, that Computer Associates would
not continue to support/update the older program
https://www2.my-etrust.com/services/ipe_support??
~~~~~~


GeCad Software

Rav (Reliable AntiVirus)
Last Updated: Dec 18/2003
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.ravantivirus.com/pages/dldupdate.php?type=Daily
Or
Open Rav and select Rav Update from the toolbar
~~~~~

Grisoft Inc.

AVG
Last updated Dec 16/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
Or
Open AVG and click Virus Database to check for updates
Or
Open AVG control centre and click Update Manager/update now

**Note: To help speed up AVG updates you can set your program to use
an alternate download site.
Open AVG control centre->update manager->download from server. The
drop downbox should have listed www.grisoft.com (default) and
www.grisoft.cz. (be sure to select "apply" when done to save the changes)
The default site is most often used so can at times become temporarily
unavailable. By using the secondary site (www.grisoft.cz) helps to ease
the server and makes your update go quicker as most don't use it!
~~~~~

H+Bedv

AntiVir
Last updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html
Or
Open AntiVir, from the top toolbar select Tools->start internet update and
follow the on screen prompts.


Vexira
Last updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.centralcommand.com/updates.html
Or
Open Vexira, from the top toolbar select Tools->start internet update and
follow the on screen prompts.

Vexira Antivirus is marketed by Central Command however it is the same
program as Antivir with only a different name.
~~~~~

Kaspersky

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (formerly AVP)
Last updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.kasperskylabs.com/updates.asp
Or
Open AVP from the top toolbar click Tools-> Update virus definition
Or
From the Kaspersky folder in your Start Menu select AVP updater


*Note* Avp now has available a cumulative update and a
daily update with the daily being any important items they
feel shouldn't wait till the next cumulative update. Our
dates here are based on the most recent Major update.

**Note: Improved update accessiblity. To ease the update web traffic
Kaspersky labs has additional servers for autoupdating. The program
defaults to use one server but can be altered to check a variety of
servers. Select Kaspersky updater, select update via the internet to
open the drop down box(es) select "location" Check the box labeled
"Use alternate locations from the list" select next and next to update.
This option should stay selected after the first time. This helps
Kaspersky lighten the load for updates and helps you obtain updates
easier.
~~~~~

Network Associates

Mcafee
Last updated Dec 17/2003
To update your software
For Mcafee Visit
http://www.networkassociates.com/us/downloads/updates/superdat.asp
(for Virus and Engine updates)


Drsolomn (Product no longer available for new users however
updates still available for current users): Go to the following
Internet site: http://download.mcafee.com/updates/4x.asp
IMPORTANT: When you get to this site you may notice that it refers
to VirusScan. This update is not only for VirusScan. It also works
with Dr.Solomon's.

Or
Open your respective software virus scan scheduler, double click
Auto update, click Run Now to do a manual live update, or click
Schedule to set up a timed live update.
~~~~~

Norman Data Defence

Norman Virus Control
Last updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.norman.com/downloads.shtml#definition_files_updates
Be sure to have your Valid Username and password handy for verification.
Or
From the Norman folder in your Start Menu select Internet Update

**Note Norman Virus Control web updates are only for version prior to
5.0. Norman 5.0 can only be updated via the update in the program itself.

Thunderbyte Anti Virus
Current Version: This product is no longer being supported.
http://www.norman.com/tbav.shtml
~~~~~

Softwin

BitDefender (Previously known as AVX - AntiVirus eXpert as of Nov 06/01)
Last Updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit:
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/downloads.php?menu_id=19&s_id=3
Or
Open BitDefender select Protection Options->live upgrade
Or
From the BitDefender folder in your Start Menu select Bitdefender Live

Press Release on the software change
http://www.bitdefender.com/press/ref1.php
~~~~~

Sophos

Sophos Anti Virus
Last IDE available Dec 18/2003
To obtain the latest IDE files
Visit: http://www.sophos.com/downloads/ide/

**Note: Sophos does not update as other products do. They update
the Engine/software once a month (or so) to include all the previous
IDE files. New IDE files are available with new virus threats and must
be downloaded individually until the next software update is available.
Our update dates reflect the most recent available IDE file.
~~~~~

Symantec

Nortons AntiVirus
Last updated Dec 17/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/defs.download.html select
your language -> product from the list
Or
Open Nortons software and click the "live update" button
Or
From the Nortons folder in your Start Menu select LiveUpdate -
Norton Antivirus
~~~~~

Trend Micro

PcCillin
Last updated Dec 18/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.antivirus.com/download/pattern.asp
Be sure to have your Registration number handy for verification
Or
Open PcCillin click Update then click Update Now (or Update later
to Schedule a timed update)
~~~~~~~~~

If there is an Anti Virus program that is Not listed here that
you would like to see added to the weekly updates list Please
feel free to let us know.

Remember Your anti virus software is only as good as the user...
If you don't keep it updated it won't provide you with maximum
protection.

This weekly Update will be sent every Thursday on or after
6pm (eastern) to keep you up to date on virus pattern updates
available. Virus patterns are checked for most recent update
date as of 6pm Thursdays.

~~~~

~ Hackfix Project Staff
staff@...
Http://www.hackfix.org

3017 St Clair Ave #176
Burlington, Ontario
L7R 3L7

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2
Seasons Greetings to everyone
http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/Xmas.htm
Thank you all for subscribing to Mikes Whats News
We wish you good health and a prosperous new year

This will be the last issue this year we will be back in January 2004
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3
CD Freaks.com - Independent CD and DVD (recording) news around the clock
http://www.cdfreaks.com/

CD, CD-ROM, DVD, CD-R... some people really live for this stuff.
No one seems more maniacal about this technology than the folks at CD
Freaks.
Learn how to make the most out of those shiny discs with a little help from
your digital friends
~~~~~
Thanks to Christy
____________________________________________________________
4
WinXPSP2_Documentation.doc
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7bd948d7-b791-40b
6-8364-685b84158c78&DisplayLang=en>
Overview
In Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft is introducing a set of
security technologies that will help to improve the ability of Windows
XP-based computers to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms.
The technologies include network protection, memory protection, safer e-mail
handling, more secure browsing, and improved computer maintenance.
++
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5
The Walls of Jericho Demo
http://www.bigfishgames.com/downloads/jericho/
The Walls of Jericho is an awesome puzzle game where you use simple mix and
match to crumble stone blocks. Your faithful followers won't stay around
forever, though, unless you can solve the puzzle, activate powerful combos
and bring down the walls!

Click-drag blocks to move them around. Match 3 or more of a kind in a row to
crumble them. Unlike many other click-and-match games, you can drag blocks
as far as you want.
++
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6
Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite v2.56 FREE
http://www.sureshotsoftware.com/stopthepoplite/index.html?source=bassindex

Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite is Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP compatible.
Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite is a free pop-up blocker preventing all annoying pop-up
windows from appearing as you surf the web. The popup stopper has full
support for both pop-ups and pop-under ads and will kill them even before
they appear on the screen. Each time a pop up is closed you will hear a cute
sound effect. To allow pop-up windows you can temporarily disable the pop-up
killer by holding Control, Shift or 'a'.

An unique Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite feature is that it will kill all pop ups from
file sharing programs such as Kazaa, Kazaa Lite, Morpheus, Grokster, iMesh
and Direct Connect.

Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite will also kill the new breed of pop-ups called
"Messenger Service spam". Messenger Service pop ups can spam you even when
your web browser is closed. Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite will also recognize and
kill hostile activeX controls from companies known to develop spyware or
adware. Gator, GAIN, C2, Comet Systems, Cydoor, Marketscore etc, are on
Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite's black list.

Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite can be configured to start automatically after a reboot
and resides in the system tray when minimized. Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite is
compatible with Internet Explorer It is light on your system's resources and
requires no setup! Pleasant surfing!
++
____________________________________________________________
7
Windows XP Services Tweak Guide
http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/index.shtml

Windows XP, just like Win2k & NT before it, runs many background Services
for a wide variety of tasks, e.g. Plug & Play support, Print Spooler & even
Task Manager.

There are ways of optimizing the usage of these Services and configure your
machine for improved performance and even security by modifying their
respective Startup types, and in some cases disabling them altogether. This
guide will take you through a multitude of different Services, how and what
they work for.

Login, Backup & Restoring

Before doing anything else ensure you are logged in as a User with
Administrative privileges. If you aren’t the re-logon as such a User
otherwise you most likely won’t be able to change anything.

Before making any changes to your Services it would be a good idea to backup
the current environment. You can do this by using the Backup utility in
Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup.

Another alternative would be to simply backup you current Services & their
settings. Click on Start, Run type in regedit & hit Enter. Expand to the
following
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services].
Now select File then Export & save that registry branch with a specified
name. Simply Double clicking on this file will prompt you as to whether or
not you wish this information to be added to the registry in wish case
select Yes & your previously saved settings will be restored.
++
____________________________________________________________
8
'Christy's Computer Corner'
thanks to Christy;
http://www.1stpick.org

KillProcess Freeware
http://home.swipnet.se/killprocess/

Terminate any executing process in milliseconds
Terminate multiple processes at once
Prevent unwanted processes from executing
Terminate anoying or troublesome applications without unecessary questions
Easy to use GUI with nifty tray icon access
Runs on Windows 2000, XP & 2003 Server (NT4 supported by version 1.6.3)
*Windows 9x/Me/NT is not supported.
~~~~~~~~
9
Wait! Stop!
Have you ever clicked the wrong link while you were browsing?
(i do this all the time) Don't you just hate that?
You frantically try to get your mouse up to the Stop button before you end
up at the wrong page, but you don't always make it. So, here are a few
suggestions:

If you've clicked the wrong link and still have that left mouse button
pressed down, just drag your pointer off the link to a blank spot and
release. No harm done.

But what if you've already clicked the link and you're off to the wrong
page? Is there any hope?

Yup, just hit your Escape key. That will stop your browser in it's tracks -
it's also a good way to stop an onslaught of pop up windows, should you
accidentally wander onto one of those kind of sites.

Was this forwarded to you ?
Get your own subscription here:
<1stpickPCtips-request@...?Subject=subscribe>

____________________________________________________________
10
Test Your Digital IQ
Audience: Everyone
--------------------

This next stop will be kind of quick, but only because it is REALLY
self-explanatory. Newsweek magazine recently included an unscientific
quiz that let you measure your digital IQ -- in other words, your
familiarity and comfort with technology. Interested in taking the quiz?
Well, instead of hunting down an old copy of Newsweek, just head on over to
http://msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3338562&p1=0 instead.

The quiz has 62 questions, some of which test your knowledge of tech terms
and most of which gauge how you use your computer from day to day. And I
want to give a special tip of the hat to Newsweek for coding the test so
that when you answer a question the next one
automatically appears. That was REALLY considerate, and it makes answering
the 62 questions a breeze. In fact, if it takes you longer
than 5 minutes to complete the entire quiz, something's wrong.

Of course, the results are COMPLETELY unscientific. But the digital IQ quiz
is still fun. And, for those who are wondering, my completely unscientific
digital IQ score is 162. :)
From; TOURBUS Volume 9, Number 27 -- 15 Dec 2003
http://www.TOURBUS.com
____________________________________________________________
11
Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck.
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves,"
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the North Pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.


And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their rooftops.

Secondhand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.
His fur-trimmed red suit was called "unenlightened."
And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose

And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in overdue compensation.
So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.
And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.
Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets ... they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.
So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.
His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere ... even you.
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

From the WWW author unknown
____________________________________________________________

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Antivirus software is a good choice to scan your system for possible viruses,
however no virus scanner is 100% effective as manufactures cannot keep up with
the rapid change of viruses that happens daily.
Be sure to update yours regularly.
http://www.hackfix.org/software/antivirus.html
______________________________________________________________________
Please feel free, to offer constructive criticism, as that will help me keep it
interesting.
I also welcome any submissions about new products, web pages, or articles of
interest.

All submissions posted in MWN will be given proper credit.
"MikesWhatsNews" believes in giving credit where credit is due but at times
deadlines and information that is very important to readers we accidentally
misspost an item.

If you believe something to be miscredited, or you know the author of one of the
articles which we have posted as 'unknown', please do let us know so we can
correct the information where applicable.

Many times in a article you may see a click here for more information, or to go
to a link, these often will not work, as the original information, was taken
from a page with HTML links. This is when you will want to go to the webpage
indicated in the article, ++ ,for 'the rest of the story'
***MfM*** indicates that I am adding my own information to a particular
article.
`~*~*~*~*~*~`
Mike ~It's a good day if I learned something new.
You can read a sample of my newsletter on my web page http://www.mwn.ca
My virus pages ~ http://virusinfo.hackfix.org
mytech@...
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